Violence, Conflict & Suicide
English Lit: AQA GCSE Romeo & Juliet, topic 4.2.1
Violence and Conflict
Love is heavily linked to violence and conflict in the play. The play also explores ideas of internal conflict and exile - a consequence of physical conflict.
Love and violence
- Throughout the play, love is linked with violence and conflict.
- Romeo attending the Capulet ball (because he loves Rosaline) causes Tybalt to vow revenge on him for dishonouring the Capulet family.
- From the moment Romeo and Juliet meet, love and violence are intertwined for the couple.
- The love-violence link causes physical fights (between Tybalt, Mercutio and Romeo, as well as Romeo and Paris).
Internal conflict
- Friar Laurence experiences internal conflict in the play.
- He knows that he should not marry Romeo and Juliet.
- But he feels that it could be the only way to stop the family feud (argument) and a huge number of deaths.
Exile and its consequences
- The Prince banishing Romeo to Mantua (because he killed Tybalt) causes Lady Montague’s death.
- She dies of grief over her son’s exile.
Suicide
Throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet constantly mention thoughts of suicide. This suggests that their love is so passionate and intense that it causes them to have violent thoughts.
Romeo - Friar Laurence's cell
- In Act 3, when Romeo is hiding in Friar Laurence’s cell, he clumsily tries to kill himself with a knife.
- The Nurse stops him by telling him to stop and think: 'For Juliet’s sake, for her sake, rise and stand'.
Juliet's panic
- A few scenes later, Juliet also goes to Friar Laurence for help because of her upcoming marriage to Paris.
- She feels conflicted. Her parents want her to marry the partner they have chosen but she is already married and does not want to commit the sin of bigamy.
- She also feels deep love for Romeo.
- She also attempts to kill herself with a knife ('And with this knife I’ll help it presently') because she sees no other way out.
- She only calms down when Friar Laurence makes the plan for Juliet to fake her own death.
Romeo - reaction to Juliet's death
- Then, in Act 5, when Romeo hears that Juliet is dead, his first thought is to buy illegal poison to end his own life.
- He says, 'Juliet, I will lie with thee to-night'.
- This shows that their love is overpowering and uncontrollable. Without Juliet, he sees no reason to live.
Juliet - reaction to Romeo's death
- Similarly, when Juliet sees that Romeo is dead, her first reaction is to commit suicide.
- She even attempts to take any remaining poison from his lips by kissing him.
- When this does not work, she grabs his dagger and stabs herself. She shouts 'let me die' because she feels that, without Romeo, her life has no meaning.
Test yourself on Violence, Conflict & Suicide
Who dies of grief after Romeo is exiled?
Which character experiences internal conflict in the play?
When in the play does Romeo contemplate committing suicide?
Which of these is NOT a quote from Juliet, showing her desire to kill herself?